LAW SCHOOL EXPERIENCE

A summer in the public interest

The main fundraiser for the Buffalo Public Interest Law Program is the group’s annual auction, which always draws a crowd eager to bid.

They stayed in town or traveled far. They helped represent
defendants and public prosecutors. They advocated for children, for
refugees, for the poor. For the School of Law’s crop of
public-interest fellows, summer means making a difference for those
who need it most.

The Buffalo Public Interest Law Program, along with awards
funded by alumni, the Buffalo Human Rights Center and the New York
Bar Foundation, sponsored 25 students for work in the public
interest this summer. These summer placements are typically unpaid,
and the School of Law’s roster of grants, fellowships and
awards makes it possible for students to follow their passions
without using their savings.

A brief sampling of our students’ summer experiences
reveals the breadth of their interests and the scope of what they
learned.

Maria Apruzzese ’17 found her summer posting with
the U.S. Marshals Service in Arlington, Va., via Google searching,
and started two days after her last final exam. In the
agency’s Office of General Counsel, she did research and and
wrote memos regarding the tort claims brought against the U.S.
Marshals. “For example, a civilian would file an
administrative tort claim with the Marshals service if they thought
a Deputy Marshal was negligent in causing their motor vehicle
accident.” She also researched cases involving asset
forfeiture and Fourth Amendment searches.

“I eventually want to be a federal law enforcement
agent,” Apruzzese says. “I like the work that the
marshals do – they definitely make a difference every
day.”

Nikolay Feodoroff ’16

Nikolay Feodoroff ’16 spent his second summer at
Journey’s End Refugee Services, in Buffalo, and says with
that foundation “I was able to do more intricate work.”
For example, he worked on asylum filings for individuals who
claimed they would be persecuted if they were sent back to their
country of origin. Feodoroff researched and wrote briefs to be
presented to an immigration judge, detailing the political
conditions in the applicant’s country.

“The attorneys at Journey’s End have an open door
policy, so it’s a really wonderful environment,” he
says. “I learned a lot and I was also part of a
team.”

Christina Kennedy ’17

“Everyone is so passionate about what they’re
doing,” says Christina Kennedy ’17 about her
experience at Advocates for Children of New York, in New York City.
The agency advocates for families of children with disabilities,
working to ensure they get the services they need, without
discrimination, from the city’s school system.

In the position, Kennedy worked on requests by families that
believe they have been denied due process by the schools, and are
requesting a new hearing. “It’s really important to
protect the rights of students to a free, appropriate public
education, because it’s a steppingstone to a really great
life,” she says.

Madison Ozzella ’17

Madison Ozzella ’17 put her 1L training to good use
in her hometown – Olean, N.Y. – in her work with Legal
Assistance of Western New York, which represents indigent clients
in areas including public benefits claims, housing issues and
family matters. As part of the agency’s Family Court
division, she spent time in court, did intake interviews, wrote
letters, orders and motions, and met with clients. (Her classmate
Sara Hicks ’17 also spent the summer with LAWNY.)

“I’ve always known I wanted to do family law. This
internship has shown me the importance of understanding public
benefit and housing law in order to best help your family law
clients.”

Jayne O’Connor ’17

At the Partnership for the Public Good, in Buffalo, Jayne
O’Connor ’17 worked on the agency’s Open
Buffalo Initiative, helping to seek a community benefits agreement
from the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. As part of that advocacy,
she also researched the Affordable Care Act and New York State
health law.

“I’ve always been interested in human rights and
civil rights and underserved populations, and this was a way to
really make it happen,” she says. “I learned a lot, and
I felt like I was doing something, not just stuck in a cubicle
somewhere. And I wouldn’t have been able to do it if I
hadn’t had a grant.”

CONTACT US

Office of Admissions University at Buffalo School of Law
309 O'Brian Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260
716-645-2907law-admissions@buffalo.edu